• a whole-farm nutrient plan in line with the latest reef regulations
• one-on-one extension to assist with agronomic decisions relating to weed and irrigation management or other factors influencing production
•  2 free items (soil test, 10ha EM mapping, or a G-Dot soil moisture monitoring sensor)
• a soil pH test kit
• fertiliser box calibration
• record of nutrient application data in line with latest reef regulations
• document and review of historical soil test data
• Google Earth training
• Nutrient Management training.

With the first investments of the Land Restoration Fund now open, the Queensland Farmers’ Federation has partnered with the Queensland Government to deliver a series of workshops across Queensland to provide information and help landholders apply for the Fund.

At the workshops, specialists from government, industry and the carbon farming sector (QRIDA, Carbon Market Institute, your industry representatives, your local NRM staff and Carbon Project Developers) will explain the application process and provide information on the first investment round so attendees can start putting together applications for carbon farming projects in Queensland.

Click on the link below to register:

The grants of up to $75,000 for farmers flood impacted from the flood event in early 2019 have now been extended to 28 February 2020.

Whitsunday Regional Council has only recently been added to the declaration area, so if you have found flood damage you are now able to lodge a claim if needed, of up to $75,000.

Eligible activities: 

• Hiring or leasing equipment or materials to clean premises, property or equipment;
• Removing and disposing of debris, damaged goods, materials including injured or dead livestock;
• Repairing or replacing fencing on the property;
• Purchasing and transporting fodder or feed for livestock;
• Replacing livestock;
• Replacing lost or damaged plants, salvaging crops, repairing or restoring fields;
• Repairing, reconditioning or replacing essential plant or equipment;
• Maintaining the health of livestock;
• Paying additional wages to an employee to assist with clean-up work.

In addition to the DRFA grants, affected primary producers can also access the Commonwealth’s Restocking, Replanting and On-farm Infrastructure co-contribution grants of up to $400,000, administered by the North Queensland Livestock Industry Recovery Agency (NQLIRA) and this is ideal if you require more grant funding over the $75,000.

Application should include:

• photographs of damage
• copies of estimates or quotes if available
• confirmation property is in disaster area
• confirmation they are an eligible primary producer

For more information about this recovery grant, including eligibility criteria and the application process, contact QRIDA on: Freecall 1800 623 946.

                                           

Registrations have recently opened for the Annual Women In Sugar Australia Conference, to be held in Mackay from 27th to 28th of April.

The organisers and sponsors encourage anyone with an interest in the sugar industry to attend. The Conference is a great way to meet lots of people and visit places of interest within the Mackay district.


To register, please click the button below and email your completed form to: jfoxfarm@outlook.com

QSL Pre-Crush Advance payment option, now accepting nominations

Do you need increased cash flow prior to harvest?

Contact your local rep for more details.

QSL has launched a new Guaranteed Floor Pool

The February 2020 Guaranteed Floor Pool – to take advantage of current pricing levels.

Like its standard counterpart, QSL's February 2020 Guaranteed Floor Pool offers growers a guaranteed minimum return or 'floor', as well as 50% participation in any pricing achieved above a set 'strike price'.

The February 2020 Guaranteed Floor Pool is now accepting nominations of a minimum of 10 tonnes, with indicative floor and strike prices available on the QSL homepage (www.qsl.com.au), QSL Direct and via our Daily Price Update email.

Nominations for this pool will close 4pm Thursday 20 February 2020, with the floor to be set at the next market opportunity.

Should the floor achieved be more than $10 less than the last published indicative floor price, the pool will be cancelled and growers will have the opportunity to reallocate their nominated tonnage to another 2020-Season pricing option.

Sign up now for Women in Sugar event

Registrations are now open for the 2020 Annual Women in Sugar Conference, to be held in Mackay on 27 and 28 April. QSL is a proud sponsor of the event, this year hosted by the Canegrowers Network Mackay District and focused on the theme of 'Farming Friendships'.

                                                                Osaka

Discover the delights of Osaka and its surrounding districts on this year's QSL study tour to Japan. This small-group trip will explore the sugar refineries and port facilities in the Keihanshin region of Japan's south-west coast. Numbers are strictly limited, with Expressions of Interest closing on Friday 29 February 2020 for a tour departure in late May. Please click here for more details. To register your interest, contact Cathy Kelly on 0409 285 074 or email Cathy.Kelly@qsl.com.au.

Reminders via QSL App

Growers using the QSL App can receive handy reminders about important dates and deadlines.

To receive this free service, accept the Notifications feature when first downloading your app, or choose 'Allow Notifications' for the QSL App within the 'Notifications' section in your phone's settings.

Need a hand with this? See your local QSL rep for help.

For more information on any of the above please contact:

Karen Vloedmans - Grower Relationship Officer

Proserpine and Whitsunday Region

Mobile 0429 804 876

• Disputes frequently arise with contracts and, if those contracts have not been committed to writing, it is sometimes difficult to establish what actually was agreed at the time the contract was entered into.  Parties can have a different understanding of certain terms of a contract or, in some cases, simply do not consider certain matters.  It is often left for a court to try to determine what the parties intended based on the evidence available. It is inevitably more costly to try to work out what was intended than it would have been to document the terms of the contract from the outset.
• Contract discussions can take place during sensitive business dealings between parties.  Although it may sound self-explanatory, a written contract gives each party the chance to read and have a clear understanding of the terms or conditions, including the expectations of each party as well as what terms they have agreed to after discussion.
• Another less obvious benefit of written contracts is that they provide the opportunity to agree on confidentiality and non-disclosure provisions protecting sensitive information.  As part of such a contract, the parties may agree to be legally bound to hold in secrecy the transactions involved and the information shared.  The party who violates this confidentiality provision would be held liable under the agreement.
• When a party to a contract breaches a written contract, there is a document which can be used to determine what the parties have agreed and to determine who really is at fault.  Having a readily available written contract reduces the chances of bringing the issue to litigation proceedings or delaying matters through litigation more than may be necessary.  This can therefore avoid cost and delay in achieving performance of the contract.
• Within written contracts, where personal performance is not required, terms can be included to allow for assignment (transfer) of contractual rights and obligations to a third party.  A written contract defines issues to be clearly considered on assignment and the terms to be included in any assignment documentation.
• A useful tool in many written contracts is a commercial device used where the party not in breach is appointed attorney for the other party.  This allows the innocent party, where there is a breach by the other party, then to exercise its remedies without further recourse to e.g. litigation.  A carefully worded power of attorney clause for example in a lease would allow a landlord to surrender the lease or transfer the lease to another party in the event of default by the tenant.
• Dispute resolution clauses can also prove very useful and can avoid expensive litigation.  A written contract should contain a carefully worded clause to cover such disputes and their resolution.
• One of the hardest things for any solicitor is to convince a client that, even when a contract does not have to be in writing, the safest method of proceeding is to document the agreement.  Parties involved in expensive contract dispute litigation frequently reflect on how little it would have cost from the outset to have documented matters.